Kirinzan

This isolated hill is located at the confluence of the Agano River and its tributary, the Tokonami River, in Agamachi, Higashikanbara County, Niigata Prefecture. It is 195 meters above sea level. Its name comes from its resemblance to a kirin (girin). In 1250 (Kencho 2), Kitsunemodoshi Castle (built by Fujikura Morihiro, a member of the Ashina clan) was built as a stronghold at the summit's western entrance to Aizu, and it continued to develop as a subsidiary castle for successive Aizu feudal lords until it was abandoned in 1627 (Kan'ei 4). The castle ruins are now Kirinyama Park, and the remains of the main citadel are an observation deck on the Agano River line, and the entire mountain is a prefectural designated natural monument as a treasure trove of plant communities. There is also a hot spring of the same name at the northern foot of the mountain.

[Hisao Yamazaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新潟県東蒲原(ひがしかんばら)郡阿賀町(あがまち)の阿賀野(あがの)川と支流常浪(とこなみ)川の合流点にある独立丘。標高195メートル。山容が麒麟に似ているところからこの名がある。1250年（建長2）頂上口会津(あいづ)西口の要害として狐戻(きつねもどし)城（蘆名(あしな)氏一族藤倉盛弘(もりひろ)築城）が築かれ、その後も歴代会津領主の支城として発展、1627年（寛永4）廃城となった。城跡は麒麟山公園となり、本丸跡は阿賀野川ラインの展望台で、全山植物群落の宝庫として県指定天然記念物。北麓(ほくろく)には同名の温泉もある。

［山崎久雄］

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